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Duke  University  Libraries 

Proclamation. 

Conf  Pam  q#126 

011031500* 


PROCLAMATION 
By  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  or  America. 

Wiikrkas,  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  President  ol  the 
Doited  States,  has  by  Proclamation  announced  the 
intention  of  invading  this  Confederacy  with  an 
armed  force,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  its  fort- 
resses, and  thereby  subverting  its  Independence, 
ami  subjecting  the  free  people  thereof  to  the  do- 
minion of  a  foreign  power, 

And,  whereas,  it  has  thus  become  the  duty  of  this 

'         rnment  to  repel  the  threatened  invasion,  and  to 

I  the  rights  and  libert'us  of  the  people,   by  all 

the  means  which  the  laws  of  Nations,  and  the  usages 

of  civilized  warfare,  place  at  its  disposal, 

Now,  therefore,  I,  JEFFERSON  DA  VIS,  President 
of  the  Con  led.  rite  States  ol  Aim  ilea,  do  issue  this  my 
Proclamation,  inviting  all   those  who  maj  desire,  by 
in  pi  irate  armed  veeei  I<  on  the  high  seas,  to 
aid    tins   (iuvei iiiiient,    in   resisting    so   wanton    and 
wieked  an  aggression,  to  make  applicaliou  for  Cora- 
missions  or  letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal  to  be   is- 
sued under  the  Seal  of  these  Confederate  States. 
An  I  1  do  further  notify    all   persons   applying  for 
of  Marque  to  make  a  statement  in    writing, 
giving  the   name  and  a  suitable   description  of  the 
eh  ii  uter,  tonnage  and  force  of  the  vessel,  and  the 
name    and  plaoe  of  residence  of  each  owner  con- 
i  i.  r  in,  and  the  intended  numberof  the  crew, 
and  to  sign  snld  statement  and  deliver  the  same  to 
i  v    ill   Sine,  or  to    the    Collector  of  any 

port  of  entry  of  these  Confederate  Slates,  to  be  by 
him  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  ol  State.  And  I 
do  further  notify  all  applicants  aforesaid,  that  In  lure 
an}  Commission  or  letter  of  Marque  is  issued  to  any 
I,  the  owner,  or  owners  thereof,  and  the  Com- 
r  for  the  lime  being,  will  be  required  to  give 
bond  to  the  Confederate  States  with  at  least  two  re- 
sponsible sureties  not  intere  ted  in  such  vessel,  in 
the  penal  sum  ol  Five  Thousand  Dollars;  or,  if  snob 
I  lie  provided  with  more  than  one  liui.drt  d  and 

.ii,    then  in  the   penal  sum   of  Ten  Thousand 
i  ,  with  condition  that  the  owners,  officers   and 

-Hall  be  employed  on  boaid  such  com- 
I  vessel,  shall  observe  the  laws  of  these 
Confederate  States,  and  the  instructions  given  to 
lur  the  regulation  of  their  conduct.  That 
they  shall  satisfy  all  damages  done  contrary  to  the 
tenor  thereof  by  such  vessel  during  her  Com  mis- 
sion, and  deliver  np  the  same  when  revoked  by  the 
1'     -i. lent  of  the  Confederate  Slates. 

And  I  do  further   specially  enjoin  on   all   persons 
ulliees,  Civil  and  Military,  under  the  authori- 
ty of  the  Confederate  States,  that   they    be  vigilant 
and  zealous  in  discharging  the  duties  incident  there- 
to. 

An. I  I  do  moreover  solemnly  exhort  the  good 
of  these  Confederate  States,  as  they  love 
their  country,  as  they  prize  the  blessings  of  free 
government,  as  they  feel  the  wrongs  oftli. 
and  those  now  threatened  in  aggravated  form,  by 
tbose.whose  enmity  is  more  implacable  because  un- 
provoked, that  they  exert  themselves  in  preserving 
order,  ill  promoting  concord,  in  maintaining  the  au- 
thority  and  efficacy  of  the  laws,  and  in  supporting 
tod  Invigorating  all  the  measures  which  may  be 
adopted  for  tbfl  coramo.l  defence,  and  by  which, 
under  the  bles-ings  of  Divine  Providence,  we  may 
hope  for  a  speedy,  just  and  honorable  peace. 

uiony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  let  my  hand, 
(  *-~*~~*  I  at  dol    the    Confederate 

ils.  S.      [-States    to  be    affixed,    this    seventeenth 

( , J  day  of   April,   A.   D,   1861. 

[oed.)  JBFJTBRSON  DAVIS. 

Ity  the  President: 
11.  Toombs,  Secretary  of  State. 


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